Friday 26th February 2021

Goodwood Members' Meeting moved to October

Latest government roadmap foils springtime plan for opening event

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Following the UK Government’s recently announced roadmap out of lockdown, Goodwood has rescheduled the date for its 78th Members’ Meeting to the 16-17 October. While it’s impossible to predict what lies ahead, the new MM fixture – which is five months after the event’s usual slot – is likely to be held with some social distancing measures. But it’s hoped that relative normality will return to Goodwood Circuit, ensuring a return to all that makes the event great. 

The Duke of Richmond said: “We welcome the roadmap from the Government on Monday, and whilst we’re disappointed that we won’t be able to host the 78th Members’ Meeting in May, we’re pleased that we can safely reschedule it to later in the year. We want to thank our GRRC members and fellows, competitors, partners, suppliers and fans for their continued support, patience and passion to bring the event to life. We can’t wait to welcome our guests back later in the year.”

The October slot means the 78^th MM will switch from being Goodwood’s opening event to its closing one on the 2021 calendar. It’ll be the first MM since 2019, with the 2020 date cancelled during the pandemic, along with Festival of Speed and Revival. They were of course temporarily replaced by the spectator-free Goodwood Speedweek, which was a terrific space-filler. But nobody – drivers, teams and spectators included – wants Goodwood Circuit’s banks to look so empty ever again.

As for the MM weekend’s running, it’ll see the return of the S.F. Edge Trophy for Edwardian brutes, the Gerry Marshall Trophy for Group 1 touring cars of the 1970s and early ’80s, as well as the rally sprint. However, Bonhams, which traditionally hosts a sale at the May event, will conduct its spring auction on 19 May at its New Bond Street saleroom instead of the re-arranged date. Unsurprisingly. 

It’s not yet known how Goodwood intends to run its FOS and Revival events for 2021; the roadmap doesn’t provide absolute clarity as to what the rules will be during their usual mid-summer and late summer slots. But it’s hoped that they should be able to go ahead with social distancing measures in place - so expect fewer attending spectators, but no shortage of action. Not least because the drivers and teams will be keen to make up for what we lost out on in 2020.

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• Goodwood 2021 motorsport tickets go on sale

[SmartVenom]

I was looking forward to a warm members meeting, but this will be more traditional now. Not a lot they could do so hats off to them for squeezing it into this year.

[paulyv]

I shall be keeping my hat firmly on, as per usual.

[Miserablegit]

Except now it clashes with half-term so I’m unable to go...That’s another year of membership down the pan...

[nicanary]

I'm concerned that the Revival and MM are now only 1 month apart. Gut feeling that the organisers will try to combine them rather tha have the hassle of 2 big events so close together. I visit the Revival where the weather can at least be half-decent and don't fancy shivering and getting soaking wet.

Time will tell.

[CS Garth]

Happy memories of 2018 or 19 when it snowed on the Saturday.

[edoverheels]

CS Garth said:

Happy memories of 2018 or 19 when it snowed on the Saturday.

I remember that - it was so cold. Round the back of the circuit at Fordwater or something there was an arts and crafts tent that was a teepee with a fire, it was absolutely packed with people. How the drivers were meant to cope in the snow I don't know.
Some poor bloke spun on the straight and smashed up a V8 open wheel single seater of some kind on a demonstration lap.

It can't get that cold in October surely.

Strangely in 2018 after the freezing MM the FOS was so hot that we ended up going home early. British weather eh?

[DeejRC]

[bish_345]

nicanary said:

I'm concerned that the Revival and MM are now only 1 month apart. Gut feeling that the organisers will try to combine them rather tha have the hassle of 2 big events so close together. I visit the Revival where the weather can at least be half-decent and don't fancy shivering and getting soaking wet.

Time will tell.

I'd be amazed if either event happens this year in customary format. More likely we'll be watching spectatorless racing on our computers again. I'm not even holding my breath for 2022. The government, "following the science", will not allow gatherings on that scale until they are forced to by a population that is so fed up with lingering Covid restrictions that there is rioting in the streets. We are a couple of years away from that. Of course, I'd be delighted to be proved wrong!

Edited by bish_345 on Monday 1st March 03:09

[coppice]

I'll be at Goodwood . Obviously its timing meant it was lost last year but I still went to race meetings at Mallory, Donington, Oulton and Cadwell in 2020 - none of which required civil insurrection to happen.